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THE FLORISTS JOURNAL. 
of old manure, is most congenial to them. This compost should 
lie exposed six or eight months, and be turned at least twice in 
that time, that the whole mass may be perfectly incorporated. 
Ranunculi delight in a rich soil, but they will not thrive where 
there is fresh manure. 
Management. —Prepare your beds in autumn. If your natural 
soil be uncongenial, remove it from the bed to the depth of a foot, 
and fill up with the above prepared maiden soil. To keep the 
roots cool and moist, let them not be raised more than one inch 
above the surface of the paths. Plant the third week in February, 
without disturbing the soil more than is necessary. Water fre¬ 
quently in dry weather ; when the flowers are about half blown, 
give shade from scorching suns, by white calico, or netting ; and 
from heavy rains, by a covering of mats ; remove them at nights, 
except just before show day. When the blooms are past perfection, 
let the beds be entirely uncovered. Tie up the flower stems from 
which you intend to save seed, to small sticks. When the seed 
pods turn brown, they should be gathered, and preserved entire 
until the time of sowing. Scrape off the seed with a pen-knife, 
and be careful to separate every seed. The adoption of the above 
method of culture will ensure success, and yield pleasures that will 
amply repay the labours of the florist. 
* J. T. 
June 26th, 1841. 
PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE. N°. I. 
Hybridization is one of the nicest and most useful operations 
in the practice of floriculture ; and the principles upon which it 
depends are far from being the least instructive. We may here 
remark, and press our remark strongly upon the attention of the 
young gardener, that there is something higher in his occupation 
than in any of the merely mechanical trades and professions, 
how highly soever they who follow these may be esteemed and 
rewarded. In most trades there is a period of pupilage ; and 
when that is passed, it is not understood that the party requires 
any future study. But a florist, or indeed a cultivator of 
